Your Pregnancy - Week 35

It’s the final countdown. Just 5 weeks to go.

You probably feel ready to pop now, more than ready to see your baby and analysing every twinge. It’s common to have lots of Braxton Hicks now and (sadly) it doesn’t mean you’re about to go into labour. But it’s a good idea to remind yourself of the signs that your baby is about to arrive. 

It’s time to start preparing your hospital bag this week. We’ve got a full breakdown of what you’ll need for labour and a handy pregnancy packing checklist too. 

You might need that list if you feel like you’ve got baby brain. It’s a real thing that can cause you to be a bit forgetful and clumsy. It’s partly down to lack of sleep and the fact you have a few more things to think about nowadays. 

But some research also suggests that hormonal and physical changes affect memory during pregnancy. So, no, you’re not losing your mind! If you feel like you’re forgetting things a lot or have other symptoms like feeling down, chat to your midwife or GP. 

Read: Your pregnancy: Week 34

What does my baby look like?

These last few weeks are a real growth party and your baby is now 2.4kg. And at roughly 42cm,  the length of two bananas. 

Your baby’s lungs are now fully developed and every day they’re practising breathing ready for the outside world. 

Your mental health and pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful, joyous time when you’re supposed to feel amazing and excited. Right? Not always. You probably feel excited, but it’s also normal to feel anxious about your baby’s health, what’ll happen during labour, and what kind of parent you’ll be.  

Sometimes we get overwhelmed by our feelings and they can develop into mental health issues like depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or tokophobia (intense fear of giving birth). 

You don’t have to cope with these feelings on your own - there’s lots of help and support out there from your midwife, GP, Tommy’s and Mind. 

There’s no shame in feeling this way and lots of women feel the same way too - if you need help and support come and talk to the 70,000 mums in our community.

Read: Your pregnancy - week 36